Sam Finley makes uncertainty point as Bristol Rovers captain insists no one is 'checking out'..By Daniel Hargraves
Bristol Rovers lost 5-0 to Lincoln City which prompted questions from sections of the fanbase regarding the players' commitment to the cause.
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Bristol Rovers captain Sam Finley is one of the numerous Bristol Rovers players out of contract this summerSam Finley has insisted that he and his Bristol Rovers teammates haven't mentally checked out on the season with eight games remaining following a 5-0 thrashing at Lincoln City on Saturday afternoon.
The Gas found themselves 3-0 down within 23 minutes at the LNER Stadium but that coincided with a handful of first-half chances for Chris Martin and Jevani Brown with Martin's first opportunity coming at 1-0. On another day it may well have been an entirely different outcome, but the Pirates swiftly gave themselves a mountain to climb going into the second half in which another two goals were conceded and Antony Evans missed a penalty.
Following the Gas' heaviest loss of the season by some margin, numerous supporters started to voice their opinions online with many declaring that they believed the players are mentally on the beach with such a short period of the campaign remaining and a number of futures hanging in the balance. Rovers are currently 13th on 50 points with eight games to go while the top six is 13 points away and the relegation zone 15 which suggests that they're set for a midtable finish and have little to play for in way of the league table.
In a strongly-worded post match interview, Matt Taylor admitted he'll be asking his players the question of whether they have mentally checked out as he exclaimed that from now on any players that aren't 100 per cent committed to the cause won't be involved in his plans over the final weeks of the campaign.
However, there is the additional case of a significant proportion of the squad, including Finley, being out of contract in the summer which in turn creates an atmosphere of uncertainty.
i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk/incoming/article8880532.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_JS314944272.jpgBristol Rovers captain Sam Finley stands in the tunnel at the Mem"There's a lot of uncertainty at the football club in regards to contracts," Finley said. "There's a lot a lads out of contract at the end of the season but I've been with this group a long time. There's obviously been a few additions under the new manager but I've been with this group a long time, there's certainly no one checking out and me as captain of the football club certainly isn't checking out.
"Whether I'm out of contract or not, which I obviously am, regardless of whether I'm here or not, people won't be questioning my integrity. My livelihood is on the line so I can fully say I'm not checking out and I know the lads in there aren't."
As the midfielder agreed, inconsistency has certainly been the story of the season for the Gas who haven't been able to string more than two consecutive wins together and the Lincoln thumping generated particular frustration because of how well Taylor's side defended and battled away at Fleetwood Town last Tuesday which earned them a 0-0 draw. The away game prior, Rovers competed excellently to earn another clean sheet in a 1-0 win over Leyton Orient which makes the fact that they had conceded three goals in 23 minutes before eventually shipping five a hair-pulling situation.
Admittedly, the Imps did come into the game in outstanding form having gone 12 games unbeaten while scoring 11 in their previous two outings but that was something the Gas had prepared for ahead of the contest.
"Never started well," Finley added. "Never got to grips with the game. Never won our individual battles. Got bullied. Never reacted quick enough. Wasn't organised enough. Got caught on the back foot straight away. Downhill from there.
"I think we still had chances first half. We said in there, we could have had three ourselves. Some great little moves and slick balls in behind and one-on-one chances that usually Chrissy, JB take for us but wasn't to be today.
"It's always difficult when they've got their tails up and it's always difficult saying come out and keep a clean sheet in the second half and give ourselves every chance but they've got their tails up and as you know before the game they were already flying. The deficit we've got at half-time, to try and stay resilient and stay in the game but they're always going to have chances because they're a good side and they're always going to have chances so it's tough.
"It's difficult. As I say, I'm the one that has to come out and do press and face the music and people might question my game and what I did in the game but that's the responsibility I've got to take. It is what it is and it's on my shoulders and it's down to me as well as the gaffer as well as the staff as well as the other experienced lads in the changing room to pull the younger lads through it and go again."
i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk/incoming/article8880553.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200e/0_JS312008031.jpgSam Finley in action for Bristol Rovers against Wigan AthleticWith six loanees and 12 permanently contracted players with current deals that expire in the summer, there is a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the club and this squad which is expected to look extremely different come next season. However, the point that Taylor has reiterated repeatedly is that there is still personal pride to play for over anything else as well as earning a contract. The way in which Rovers conclude the campaign will likely correlate with how many of the current crop of players remain come August.
Finley is one of those players who, like the captain himself declared, is playing for his livelihood and will have eight more opportunities to showcase his qualities to his manager in in-game scenarios before the ultimate decision is made.
The congestion of having eight games in 30 days to see out the season is something that the Gas manager described as "madness" but ultimately it is now being seen as a final trial period or audition for the likes of Finley and his teammates that are battling to stay at the club.
Before that begins with a trip to relegation-battling Port Vale though, first is an international break which will first give players and staff some time away from each other before a period of work behind closed doors on the training pitch without the distraction of a match. Usually, players tend to say that going into a break after a defeat is particularly frustrating because they don't have an immediate opportunity to right wrongs but, for Finley, the upcoming time out of action is timely after a heavy defeat.
"You'd normally say you want a game straight away on Tuesday to bounce back but I think the international break is perfect for us to be honest with you," the skipper said. "Especially after the Derby result, that's what's so frustrating, the inconsistency of us. After we battled, although it was a 0-0 draw, I thought we were miles the better side on Tuesday night away at Fleetwood. Defensively we battled brilliantly and dealt with everything they through at us then we come here and do that in the first half of the game. It's just so frustrating."
i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk/incoming/article8184119.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_JMP_Rovers_vs_Exeter_AW_225.jpgBristol Rovers captain Sam Finley
